Royal Hospital Kilmainham

26/05/2026

Inside the walls of the Royal Hospital, elevated just about a main road lies the final resting place for many of the working and middle class of Dublin for centuries... Bully's Acre. It is flanked on either side by military cemeteries paying homage to the hundreds of years the Royal Hospital was home to veterans, staff and officers alike.

To explore this history, the stories and the people behind them, throughout June we will be running tours of the cemeteries on site here. Join us over multiple weekends, to hear and learn about what happened behind these walls. From clashes between burial rites and grave-robbing to victims of disasters, hear how the Royal Hospital interacted with death, mourning and the local community.

Tickets are FREE but need to be booked via Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bullys-acre-cemetery-tour-tickets-1986129557973?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

For more information email [email protected].

OPW - Office of Public Works Heritage Ireland

22/05/2026

Biodiversity Week is well under way, with the sun shining and flowers blooming.

Don't forget to pop into us for it on Sunday, the 24th May at 12pm, for a fascinating specialised biodiversity tour of the Gardens and Grounds of the Royal Hospital. Join us to learn about the different trees, shrubs and flowers growing in this unique green oasis. Hear about the various policies we follow here in the Royal Hospital to promote biodiversity and Irish flora. Learn about how all these practices also help to support Irish wildlife.

This is a FREE event which you do not need to pre-book for. Simply be at the OPW stand in the central courtyard of the Royal Hospital, beside the entrance of the Irish Museum of Modern Art, 12pm on the 24th May.

OPW - Office of Public Works Heritage Ireland

12/05/2026

As the weather changes, and the days get longer, throughout the grounds pockets of colour burst forth adding a kaleidoscope effect to our grounds.

As part of the May initiative, many parts of the grounds and cemeteries are allowed to grow a little wilder than normal. This initiative is designed to help native wildlife. By allowing flowers to blossom and grow, our native pollinators find food and shelter. It protects and promotes native Irish flora.

Some parts of the site such as our Formal Garden will be maintained throughout May but by allowing the cemeteries, meadows and avenue to bloom and seed naturally, we play our part in promoting biodiversity and preserving our green spaces.

OPW - Office of Public Works Heritage Ireland

07/05/2026

04/05/2026

Biodiversity Week is just around the corner. We are delighted to be once again taking part this year.

On the 17th and 24th May at 12pm, join us for a fascinating specialised biodiversity tour of the Gardens and Grounds of the Royal Hospital. Join us to learn about the different trees, shrubs and flowers growing in this unique green oasis. Hear about the various policies we follow here in the Royal Hospital to promote biodiversity and Irish flora. Learn about how all these practices also help to support Irish wildlife.

This is a FREE event which you did not need to pre-book for. Simply be at the OPW stand in the central courtyard of the Royal Hospital, beside the entrance of the Irish Museum of Modern Art, 12pm on the 17th and/or the 24th May.

OPW - Office of Public Works Heritage Ireland

03/05/2026

28/04/2026

With May just around the corner, promising bluer skies, warmer temperatures and hopefully less rain. With better weather, brings more activities and more aspects of our fascinating unique history can be explored.

First weekend of May will see us running two specialised tours on top of our daily walking tours.

2nd and 3rd May at 2pm, we are running our cemeteries tours. Join us to hear all about how the Royal Hospital dealt with death, mourning, infamous characters and how it shaped our relationship with the local communities.

On the back of its success and in honour of the anniversary of the executions, we are delighted to be running a Royal Hospital and Easter Rising tour. On the 3rd May at 12:30pm, join us to learn about the role the Royal Hospital played in the Easter Rising as a headquarters, observer, and accommodation for soldiers. Hear of the characters here and the roles they would play.

Tickets can be booked through Eventbrite:
For Bully's Acre: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bullys-acre-cemetery-tour-tickets-1986129557973?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
For Easter Rising Tour: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-royal-hospital-and-easter-rising-tour-tickets-1988385148505?aff=oddtdtcreator

For more information email [email protected]
Heritage Ireland OPW - Office of Public Works

21/04/2026

As the sun breaks through the trees in Bully's Acre, we notice different names, stories and design peak out from the stone of the headstones. Telling another story of the Kilmainham Inchicore area.

We are delighted to be running several of our Bully's Acre cemeteries tours over the May weekends. On the 2nd, 3rd, 16th and 24th May at 2pm join us to learn about the fascinating and morbid history hidden between the walls of the cemeteries of the Royal Hospital. Learn of the generations, the characters buried here and how the public responded to its use and any attempt to curtail their use of it.

Tickets are FREE but must be booked through eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bullys-acre-cemetery-tour-tickets-1987684300249?aff=erellivmlt

For more information email [email protected]

OPW - Office of Public Works Heritage Ireland

17/04/2026

Easter Week 1916. The Royal Hospital would play a number of roles a headquarters, monitoring position and nursing home just to name a few. Major Generals to Privates and civilians would pass through this space responding to the events occurring both in Dublin and the island.

To explore this multi-faceted, fascinating time in our history, we are delighted to announce we have a specialised tour on the Royal Hospital and the Easter Rising occurring on the 26th April at 2pm. Join one of our guides, to learn all about the events happening here and the characters involved. The justifications and the influences.

Tickets are FREE but need to be booked through the Eventbrite link below. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-royal-hospital-and-easter-rising-tour-tickets-1987687157796?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

For more information email [email protected].

OPW - Office of Public Works Heritage Ireland

📸 National Library of Ireland
📸 Ellen Barnicle

12/04/2026

Throughout our 2026 season, we are delighted to announce we will be hosting a series of specialised tours of the Royal Hospital and its grounds. The history, the characters and all of the drama.

Delighted to be starting with a Garden Tour on the 19th April at 2pm. Join one of our guides to learn about the history of the gardens. Learn abouts its development, restoration and different uses over the centuries. Hear about the different flora growing within the walls of the gardens. Also hear about how these plants and shrubs help to support the different wildlife that make the Royal Hospital Gardens their home.

The tour is FREE. No need to book a ticket. Just be at the starting point which is the OPW stand that is outside the Old Man's House exhibition in the central courtyard of the Royal Hospital beside the entrance to the Irish Museum of Modern Art.

OPW - Office of Public Works Heritage Ireland